(I realize the cover contest was supposed to end on the 20th but seeing as someone needs a bit more time I shall extend the deadline to this Sunday. No exceptions)

"So, what look are you goin for?" California asked, getting out a bunch of makeup stuffs Montana didn't even know existed.

"Uhhh.... attractive...?" Montana said.

"...well what am I supposed to do with that information? Not use special effects makeup to make you look like a zombie?" California asked. Montana shrugged.

"I don't know, Make me pretty!" Montana exclaimed.

"You already are! I'm just asking what vibe do you want all over your face?" California asked.

"What do you mean I'm already pretty?! Makeup is what'll make me pretty!" Montana exclaimed.

"Oh sweetie, makeup isn't to make you pretty, it's like wearing a fancy dress. Sure, that dress looks super cool and stuff, but you are wearing it. You are owning it. You are making it yours! And you're pretty with or without it," California said.

"Oh... well, let's do plastic surgery then because something needs to fix this," Montana said.

"Tana... you've never cared this much about your looks before! You were always content with just being yourself and staying healthy.... what changed?" California asked. Montana sighed.

"I dunno... everyone around me is so beautiful, and I'm just average...," Montana said.

"You have been smiling a lot less... in fact, you only ever walk around with a frown...," California said. Montana sighed.

"Look, I'll give you anything.... I just... need something to change," Montana said. California thought for a second, before nodding.

"Ok, I've got just the thing,"

Meanwhile, Texas and Arkansas were rushing around, trying to find Florida.

"Guys? What's going on?" Louisiana asked.

"Don't be mad," Texas said.

"...ok...?"

"We lost Florida,"

"What?!"

"It's fine! He's gotta be around here somewhere!" Arkansas exclaimed.

"How'd you even lose him?!" Louisiana exclaimed.

"I may have accidentally turned him into an alligator," Texas said.

"Oh god...," Louisiana said.

"Look, I'm sure it'll be fine and I can change him back, we just gotta find Tennessee so he can lure him to us-,"

"No," Tennessee said.

"What?" Texas said.

"Admittedly I am unsure who I'm supposed to be luring but I'm going on music strike for today...," Tennessee said.

"Why?" Arkansas asked. Tennessee looked like he was fighting tears.

"I just am, ok?! J-just... just leave me alone...," Tennessee said, before rushing away.

"...I'll go talk to him... Louis, get the spirits lookin as well, I'm sure they'll find Florida," Texas said. Louis nodded, and Texas rushed in the direction Tennessee went.

Meanwhile, California was patting Montana's face with all kinds of brushes, sponges, lotions, sweet-smelling thingies, and other stuff Montana didn't understand. Suddenly, California stepped back, and looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"O-oh my god.... you look.... you look absolutely beautiful!" California exclaimed tearfully.

"Really? Can I see?" Montana exclaimed California didn't answer, he just ran to get a few other states. When they walked in, all of them looked shocked.

"Marry me?!" Wyoming exclaimed.

"You look beautiful!" Georgia exclaimed.

"I can never look at anything ever again! I already saw the most beautiful thing the world has to offer!" Oregon exclaimed.

"I don't get it, she looks the same?" Washington whispered to California.

"Shhh, we know," California said. However, Montana didn't hear this interaction, she just heard Wyoming, Georgia, and Oregon fawning over her looks. Montana smiled.

"Wow, I've no clue what you did, but it sure worked!" Montana exclaimed. She walked out of Californias room, and as she walked past the other states, she flashed them a warm smile. Everyone stared at her, a look of admiration on their face.

"Hey Monty!! You look so happy right now! It's refreshing! You've seemed kinda down recently," Hawaii said.

"Well, I was, but I'm absolutely gorgeous now! I have nothing to frown about!" Montana exclaimed. Hawaii smiled.

"Aw, Monty, you've always been gorgeous!" Hawaii exclaimed.

"Sure, sure, just wait until the makeup comes off...," Montana said.

"You're wearing makeup?" Hawaii asked.

"Yeah...? Cali just spent like, an hour putting makeup on me," Montana said.

"Really? I can't even tell!" Hawaii exclaimed. Montana looked at Hawaii suspiciously, and checked her appearance on her phones front-facing camera. She realized that she had absolutely no makeup on.

"What?! But Cali said he- and everyone was- how?!!!" Montana exclaimed. "Everyone I walked by looked at me like I was beautiful! Why would they if I just looked the same??" Montana exclaimed. Hawaii smiled apologetically.

"Maybe because for the first time in weeks, you believed you were beautiful, and you had your real, genuine, beautiful smile," Hawaii said. Montana sighed.

"Oh...," Montana said.

"Isn't it a good thing?" Hawaii asked. Montana thought about it for a moment, before smiling.

"Y'know what? That is pretty great... forget the makeup, I don't need it," Montana said.

"There's my girl," Hawaii said.

Meanwhile, Texas was knocking on Tennessee's door.

"Go away," Tennessee exclaimed.

"C'mon Tennessee, please open the door... I promise I'll do my best to help," Texas said.

"Will you kiss a horse? and if you do, would it do anything? No. I don't think so. Leave me alone," Tennessee exclaimed. Texas sighed, and broke in anyway. Tennessee's room was a large ranch stretching out under a bright blue sky. Tennessee's home was in the distance. He went there to hear soft cries coming from a nearby stable. He saw Tennessee sitting next to an old horse that was lying on the floor, its weary head resting on Tennessee's lap.

"Tennessee... what happened?" Texas asked.

"We were just going out for another ride... but his knees buckled... he couldn't walk any further... I called all the animals I could to help him back home... I-I... I can't lose another one...," Tennessee cried. Texas sighed sadly. The states may be practically immortal, but the animals of this world were not. Texas looked over at the stable wall to see the names of all of Tennessee's old horses carved into the wood. He knew that in every different animal pen, a wall of names was etched onto them. He knew that just on the other side of the small hill behind Tennessee's ranch, was a pet cemetary.

"Tennessee... I know it's hard, but animals just can't live forever...," Texas said, kneeling beside Tennessee. Tennessee started to sob, leaning on Texas. "Aw, c'mon, Eddy doesn't wanna spend his last minutes listening to you cry... we have the rest of time to mourn, we can't do it in front of him... c'mon, play us a song," Texas said, handing Tennessee his banjo.

"b-but... I go on a music strike when my animals die...," Tennessee said. Eddy let out a huff as if to say 'I ain't dead yet'. Tennessee shakily nodded, and began to strum his banjo.

"There's a place where the sun doth shine, and the birds keep time with the pines up yonder, that's the home of my Caroline, she's dancin' with the sky...,"

(Song: Caroline by Colter Wall)